LIFT TO THE SCAFFOLD

Louis Malle's “Elevator to the Scaffold” (1958) is a classic, stylish crime noir that paved the way for the French New Wave and forever merged cinema with jazz.

Florence and her lover Julien plan a perfect murder - the murder of her husband, a wealthy industrialist. Though the crime goes according to plan, the intricate concept is shattered by one unfortunate detail: returning for evidence left at the scene, Julien gets stuck in a blocked elevator. As she spends the night locked in a trap, Florence traverses the streets of Paris in search of him, unaware that at the same time a pair of young people steal Julien's car, triggering an avalanche of tragic accidents.

The atmosphere of increasing fatalism and loneliness of the heroes is built by the iconic soundtrack of Miles Davis (whose 100th birthday falls on May 26, 2026). The composition — considered one of the best soundtracks in history — was created in just one night as the live musician improvised for the film's projected frames.